Battle continues in Brattleboro

Oh... My... God...

I have posted previously on that stupid taser torture incident in Brattleboro, VT. This is the incident where the police removed their thinking caps and replaced them with brain-stem-based taser brainwashing, and then (mis)used a taser to torture two protestors to force (verb) them to release themselves from the barrel to which they had chained themselves.

I had no idea of the magnitude of the directly resultant legal battles. Based on this latest news item [LINK], the legal sh_t storm is about three or four times bigger than I had imagined.

One important tidbit is that the police involved in this incident reportedly did not have permission from the land owner to evict the protestors from the vacant lot. Which obviously leaves open the option of doing nothing and allowing the protestors to protest until they get bored and go home. Or use non-violent methods such as negotiation, or lawful force (the noun).

But by bringing the taser into the situation "to save time" (sic), the police have made a dumbass tactical error with huge strategic consequences.

For example: "...former Brattleboro Police Chief John Martin, who was fired by the town in part for his handling of the incident. Martin later won a lawsuit against the town over his firing and received a cash settlement..."

Even though the former police chief won the lawsuit, the incident and his dismissal (and the lawsuit!) aren't going make his C.V. look attractive to any towns looking for a police chief.


Face facts: Tasers are very controversial. Taser use, overuse, misuse and abuse are always going to be in the spotlight. That makes them a very poor choice unless you wish to spend the next several years in court.


In the Brattleboro incident, imagine if the police had kept their thinking caps on. Brought coffee and doughnuts to the chained-up protestors. Calmly talked to them, identified them and issued tickets (if applicable). Dropped by every couple of hours with more coffee and to make sure that they're okay. More coffee. Maybe some root beer. Think!!! Protestors chained to barrel, bladders full to the point of bursting, a faint whiff of wee. Want more coffee?

If the police hadn't been brainwashed on the "usefulness" of their "handy-dandy" tasers, then perhaps they could have lined-up several functioning neurons and found a better approach that wouldn't make the national news and cost six or seven figures.

This stupid taser incident in Brattleboro is a clear example that tasers do not replace guns. They replace clever police work.

And non-clever police work is extremely expensive.